Iran’s Supreme Leader's adviser Ali Akbar Velayati has called for closer ties between Tehran and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, designated a terrorist organization by the US, EU, and UK. 

Velayati made the remarks during a meeting with the leader of the group Ziyad al-Nakhalah in Tehran on Tuesday, saying, “We have a close and serious relationship with the Islamic Jihad movement and the Palestinian resistance.”

The senior international affairs adviser of Ali Khamenei also highlighted the significance of visits by officials of neighboring states to Tehran. 

Praising the support by the Islamic Republic and the growing power of the regional resistance front against Israel, Nakhalah said that today Israel has found itself encircled from all directions by the resistance axis.

He added that the enemies and the United States have adopted a “very weak” policy in the face of the Islamic Republic’s influence, claiming that Iran plays a very effective role in the region.

Earlier on Tuesday, Nakhala also held a meeting with the Iranian foreign minister, in which Hossein Amir-Abdollahian reaffirmed the Islamic Republic’s commitment to continue to support Palestinian groups against Israel. 

Nakhala also met with Kamal Kharrazi, the head of Iran's Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, who also told the Palestinian official that Israel has been caught off guard and is besieged by the resistance front. 

Israel and most regional Arab countries have been concerned over Iran’s support for militant groups and its interference in affairs of other countries.